DISCUSSION OF ANALYSES. 75 



analysis corresponded with the Bureau of Chemistry analysis, and if 

 such was not the case, asking for any explanation that he might desire 

 to make. A copy of the circular letter is given below, and in connec- 

 tion with the discussions of the analyses such extracts from the spring 

 owners' replies are quoted as have a bearing on the case. 



CIRCULAR LETTER TO SPRING OWNERS. 



DEAR SIR: The Insecticide and Water Laboratory of this Bureau has, during the 

 last year, been making a study of American mineral waters as they appear on the 

 market. You will find inclosed a copy of the analysis which we have made of your 

 spring water. This sample of water was obtained of and does (not) 



differ materially from the analysis given in your advertising matter. 



We are sending every spring owner a copy of the analysis of his water before pub- 

 lishing the results, so that he may, if he so desire, explain any difference existing 

 between the analysis as obtained by us and as given in the advertising matter. If 

 the analyses do differ materially, any legitimate explanation which the spring owner 

 may make will be carefully considered and published with the analysis of the spring. 



Hoping that you will give this matter your early consideration, I remain, 



Respectfully, H. W. WILEY, Chief. 



POLAND WATER (No. 6881. & W.). 



While the Bureau of Chemistry analysis and the advertised analysis 

 are not the same, they agree as closely as could be expected on two 

 samples taken at different times. The spring owner was therefore 

 advised that his analysis did not differ materially from the one obtained 

 in the Bureau of Chemistry. 



MASSANETTA WATER (No. 689 I. & W.). 



The same may be said in regard to this water as has been said for 

 the Poland water, with one exception, i. e. , the determination of iron 

 oxid and alumina. While the Bureau of Chemistry only found 0.5 

 part per million, the advertised analysis claims over 6 parts per mil- 

 lion. This difference could easily be explained on the assumption that 

 the iron and aluminum had largely precipitated out before the water 

 was bottled. Although the owner was informed that his analysis 

 agreed closely with that of the Bureau, the following communication 

 was received from him: 



I have no doubt of the correctness of your analysis, but have great doubts whether 

 the water you analyzed was the pure Massanetta. Parties in Washington have, I 

 have been informed, been selling other waters under the trade-mark for Massa- 

 netta. * * * This much I know. Some years ago we used to ship from 1,100 to 

 1,200 barrels to Washington and Philadelphia, and now I don't think we ship a dozen 

 barrels to either city, and yet about as much Massanetta water is being sold as ever, 

 according to my information. I have a letter from the brother of one man who sold 

 Massanetta water in Washington, telling me that his employer ordered him to sell as 

 little Massanetta as possible, but to sell all of the water he could from a spring his 

 employer owned as Massanetta water. 



